What's your favorite .30-06 bullet/powder for whitetails?

[rantingredneck]

I'm gonna start reloading .30-06 soon. Have been loading .45's for a few months and this will be my first foray into rifle loading. I'll be target shooting and hunting NC whitetails with a Rem 700 ADL.

What's your favorite bullet for deer size game? Favorite powder for that bullet?

I've been looking at the Nosler Accubond 165's. Anyone got any experience with them? Good/Bad/Ugly?

What powder would you choose to push a 165?

Any powders that are pretty versatile across the bullet weight spectrum in .30-06? I'm thinking that I'll possibly load anywhere from 125's up to 165's. I'd like to keep the powder stockpile as simple as possible.

 

[rantingredneck]

Also if any of those powders would also work well with .243 win that would be good to know. I'll be getting into loading it next.

 

[Sunray]

The .30-06 loves that bullet weight. IMR4064 works well with 165's. 45.0 to 50.0. It works extremely well with 168 grain match bullets too. 54.9 grains of it is given as the factory duplication load for 125's in my old Lyman manual. Don't use 125's myself though.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

4895 for 150 gr and up and Varget is great also. might as well use 150's and up. I've never used 165's, that is for a BIG deer. my shots with '06 are 150-200 yards. 150's Sierra soft point blow through and drop 'em. does good on hogs also.

 

[Steve in PA]

Hornady 165gr BTSP and H414...........lots of deer taken with that combo!

 

[Shoney]

Bullet
Hornady 165
Nosler 165 Partition

Powder
IMR 4350 at or near max

Have taken numbers of Elk, Mule Deer, Whitetail, and Antelope

 

[Snapping Twig]

Bullet: Nosler 165 BT

Powder: 57g IMR4350

Accurate and hard hitting.

 

[PotatoJudge]

I hunt with Nosler ballistic tips, but only because I got mine when they were cheap. Next time I buy it'll be Sierra Gamekings or Pro-hunters, maybe Remington core-lokts- all very capable bullets so you might as well get what you'll practice a ton with. I use IMR 4064 for up to 165 grain bullets and IMR 4350 for 180 and up. 4350 is probably a more versatile powder overall.

 

[Ol` Joe]

I`ve never had a problem on game with either the 150 or 165 Hornady SP and IMR4350.

 

[Hutch]

Hornady 150gr SP (stock #3031) and H4895. In my rifle, 48.0gr gives me right at 2800fps and GREAT accuracy.

 

[rantingredneck]

Well I'm seeing a trend here toward the Hornady bullets and IMR 4350 powder.

Keep the suggestions coming guys, great info so far and thanks!

 

[HankB]

I've standardized on one basic load for my .30/06 for all hunting;

Winchester case, once fired

Winchester standard Large Rifle primer

61.0 grains of ReLoder 22 powder (This is max. in the Nosler manual, and 1 grain under max. in the Speer; work up to this in YOUR rifle.)

180 grain Nosler Partition.

This load has accounted for plenty of deer, as well as kudu, gemsbok, impala, wildebeest, etc.

If you want faster expansion and near-match accuracy, a 180 Ballistic Tip may be substituted. (Used that on a leopard with excellent results.)

 

[The Bushmaster]

And just to be different...I use 165 grain Sierra HPBT and H4831SC...Works quite good in my A-bolt .30-06...

 

[Charles S]

I've been looking at the Nosler Accubond 165's. Anyone got any experience with them?

Yes...I hunted with the 150 gr Accubonds last year and I was very impressed with their terminal performance. In my 30-06s they are not the most accurate bullet I have used, but their accuracy is more than acceptable for hunting.

I must say that the 165 supper premium bullets in the 30-06 are not necessary for white tail, as a matter of fact I am almost afraid they would penetrate too well on the small deer around here (East Texas, South West AR, and North West LA). I shot a deer at about 180 yards with the Accubond in the 150 with the deer facing me and the (about 110 pound doe) and the bullet traversed the entire animal.

For powders in that bullet weight I like IMR 4064, 4350 (better), and Reloader 19.

For your needs any good 165 will work. I really like the Hornady 165, the Speer 165 solid base boat tail, and the Sierra GameKing. I found the older Nolser Ballistic tips a little to fragile, but I understand the newer ones have fixed that problem.

I would never recommend the match bullets (e.g. MatchKing) for hunting, their performance is just too erratic (with the exception of the ones designed for hunting).

Good luck...White tails are not hard to kill, any good bullet properly placed with a 30-06 will be more than enough for the task.

I've standardized on one basic load for my .30/06 for all hunting;

Winchester case, once fired

Winchester standard Large Rifle primer

61.0 grains of ReLoder 22 powder (This is max. in the Nosler manual, and 1 grain under max. in the Speer; work up to this in YOUR rifle.)

180 grain Nosler Partition.

This load has accounted for plenty of deer, as well as kudu, gemsbok, impala, wildebeest, etc.

Hank...that is really smart. I think I may do that also.

 

[BsChoy]

In a bolt gun I liked 50.0 grains of varget or IMR4064 under a 150 SST. My M1 likes 47.0 grains 4064 with that bullet

 

[Doug b]

Speer 130 gr. hp for eastern white tails.
IMR4064 for bullets under 150 gr.
IMR4350 for bullets over 150 gr.
Been my standard in 30/06 for a long time.

 

[SR_]

I also hunt in NC. I like the Nosler 150gr Partition. I use H 4350.

I don't think you need a heaver bullet.

 

[critter]

150 gr Nosler BT and IMR 4350 makes VERY accurate loads in my guns. IMR 4895 is almost as good.

 

[smitty_bs]

30/06 Reloads for Whitetails

I have numerous handloads for my 30/06 and whitetails. FYI I shoot a Remington 700BDL / 22"bbl.

For woods hunting, 180gr roundnose Speer HotCors with 48gr of IMR4064 are tough to beat. Shoots one inch groups at 100 yards, even though I've never shot past 75yds in the woods. A round nose 180 grainer should expand quicker at woods ranges, and still has enough shank to penetrate all the way through. Occasionally to mix things up I've gone to the 180gr Sierra Spitzer, also very accurate and just as deadly.

I used to live in South Dakota with much longer ranges. There I shot 150gr Hornady Spire Points. Used 48gr of IMR4320; very mild load but sub moa accuracy. I've also used Speer HotCor Spitzers in the same weight. Another very good load, and flatter shooting is the same bullets with 52gr of IMR4064. Many writers and manuals list that as a very accurate load. The reason I don't normally use 150gr bullets in the woods, is that one year I shot a doe at about 70 yards with a 180gr Hornady Spire Pt. Took her on an angle, quartering away. The slug took out three ribs, went through the chest cavity, through the chest plate and grisle, and lodged under the skin. This was at least 2 feet of penetration with a good bullet. I don't think a 150gr slug would have done as well, so I like to go to a heavier bullet for closer range work.

All that being said, this year I plan to use a new load. The 150gr Speer Flat Point with 43.5gr of IMR4320. This is a warm 30/30 load or perhaps a 300 Savage equivalent. Midway had those bullets on sale, I couldn't resist and they should be fine (and mild shooting) for the woods. That load shoots 1" groups at 100 yds and I had originally worked it up for a friend of mine's kid who was to hunt with us. In Wisconsin, you can get numerous whitetail tags, so I'll shoot the first one (hopefully) with that load, and then perhaps switch to another load. I enjoy seeing the different performances of the different types of bullets.

Anyway, Good Luck! With an ought six you really can't go wrong.

 

[GooseGestapo]

You can essentially spend an entire lifetime trying different bullet, powder, ect combinations with the '06 and about the time you think you've got is "worked out", something new will come along.

However, when you brought your .243 into the equation, I can only think of 3 powders that will maximize both......

first, try IMR4350. My .243 didn't like it however.
Then, IMR4831, my .243 was "so-so" with this w/100gr bullets, not so hot with lighter bullets.
But, Reloader 22 "hit the spot", ususally near 1-hole accuracy with either 100gr Hornady or Noslers at 42.5gr (Noslers max and best accuracy load).

I found my '06's, that 60.0gr of RL-22 was best, and with my brass, I can't get 61.0 in the case and seat a Nosler B.T. or Hornady SST without damaging the bullets. However, 60.0gr gives me 2,850fps w/180gr bullet which is .300H&H mag. levels. Kicks like it too !!! (24"bbls).

For Whitetails, I prefer a 150gr bullet in the '06, and either IMR4064 or Reloader15 have given best accuracy. If a Sierra or Nosler 150gr (doesn't matter which one's !!) and 52.0gr of 4064 or RL15 for 2,950-3,000fps don't give MOA, your gun's not capable. I've also gotten 1-hole accuracy with 165gr bullets and IMR4350 (56.5-57.5gr). But, inside 300yds, the 150's shoot flatter. The only .30cal I use a 180gr in is a .300RUM, and because it takes this much bullet weight to make it "behave" in the accuracy realm. Also, energy and trajectory are superior in the +300yd realm where this gun is used. BTW, I wouldn't use this for anything I wouldn't use the '06 for.

FWIW; my brother uses a pre-64 Win. mod70 FW in .308 with 150gr Nosler Partitions for "everything". He's taken elk, mule deer, whitetail, pronghorn, and sheep with this load and has yet to recover a bullet, even from an angled body shot on a 900lb elk. He prefers H4895 and gets ~2,900fps. His longest shot has been a whitetail in Georgia, too!!!!! about 275yds, so, he no longer sights in at 300yds, just 250..... and uses a dead-on hold to ~300yds.

If you need more gun than an '06, you need at least a .375H&H, and perhaps even more............BTDT.

You'll probably find out as I did as early as the early '80's that the '06 is a bit "much" for whitetails and go back to your .243. I personnally prefer a .257Roberts or .30/30 for deer. Even my .35Rem is a bit "hard" on them.

 

[Will Fennell]

same load for everything

I've settled on this load for all my hunting with my favorite 30/06........fed match primer, winchester brass, 165 partition, and H 4350. It kills well, and consistantly, and groups well in my rifle.

 

[hawkeye1]

Here's my favorite. 58 grains H4350 over 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip. Shoots great and does everything the 30-06 was meant to do. I like the 150 grainers the best for this round. One of the best all around. Also have had good luck with R19.

 

[Lennyjoe]

56.0gr of IMR 4350 under 165gr Sierra Gameking and Winchester LR primers work great out of my Savage 110. I put down 3 deer in the last 2 years with this load and they all died where they stood. Longest shot was 120 yds. On the range I get consistent 3/4" groups @100yds.

 

[dodge]

I use Sierra's 165 gr Gameking and 59 grs of H4831 SC out of my Savage 111. Out of my rifle I get 2700 fps and 1" groups at 100 yards. Killed a lot of deer with this load and none of them went more that a couple of steps from where they were hit.

 

[GunTech]

I like 168gn Barnes TSX over VV N550. But the powder is getting hard to find. Any suggestions for an alternative?